Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

If you're feeling fatigued or low on energy during the day, the cause might be sleep apnea. But unless you say the magic words "I'm sleepy," it's a diagnosis that your doctor may miss.

Sleep apnea—a condition in which breathing is interrupted during a snooze, most often because the throat is blocked for a few seconds by the tongue or other tissue—is sneaky. In fact, when researchers at the University of Michigan asked 190 people with this condition to select their most significant symptom, 40% chose lack of energy, while only 22% said sleepiness. Many even denied being sleepy.

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This could be one reason that more than 90% of women and 80% of men with sleep apnea are undiagnosed, says study author Ronald Chervin, MD, director of the university's Michael S. Aldrich Sleep Disorders Laboratory in Ann Arbor.

Getting a diagnosis—and treatment (most often a nasal mask that provides pressurized air to keep the throat open during sleep)—is important. Sleep apnea is associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Reduction of long-term risk for these conditions is, of course, worthwhile.

But there's an immediate bonus: "Many sleep apnea patients who are treated feel more energetic—like they've got their life back again," Chervin says.

Should You Take The Sleep Apnea Test? A night-or two-in a sleep lab is the best way to diagnose sleep apnea. Some of the signs that suggest that you should speak to your doctor about this test include these:

You feel consistently fatigued, tired, or drained of energy during the day.

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